The need to live more sustainably has never been more important, and many households and businesses are now trying to reduce their impact on the planet. Switching to solar power is one of the most effective methods of lowering your carbon footprint and giving you a renewable and clean source of energy. What is a solar powered system, though?
Adding solar panels to your home can significantly reduce your dependency on traditional energy sources, lowering your bills in the process. In this blog, we thought we would take a closer look at the question, “what is a solar powered system?” so you can understand exactly how they work.
So what is a solar powered system?
As the name suggests, a solar powered system is a solution you can install in your home or business that allows you to utilise solar energy. This energy can then be used to power electronics, store energy for later use or even power your home.
This system is made up of a range of individual items, including:
Solar panels
When it comes to answering, “what is a solar powered system?” the first part of the system to know about is the panels. Solar panels are what capture the energy from the sun, and they are made of semiconductors, such as silicon, which absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity.
Inverter
The energy that these panels generate is known as Direct Current (DC). However, our properties are powered by Alternating Current (AC), so before we can use it to power our devices, it needs to be converted.
This is where an inverter comes in. This is an essential part of any solar system and turns the energy from the sun into usable power.
Solar Power Meter
The next step is for that power to travel to a solar power meter. In traditional electricity meters, the power flows from the grid into your house. However, with a solar power meter it can be bidirectional. This means when your panels have generated more energy than you need, it can be reverted to the grid so you can get credits on your bill.
Solar battery
That spare energy can also be stored for your own use later through a solar battery. This will let you build up a bank of electricity that you can use when the sun goes down.
What is a solar powered system? Find out more!
If you want to find out more about a solar powered system and the benefits that installing one in your home can provide, then Solar Power NI is here to help you. Since our launch in 2010, we have grown to become one of the leading renewable energy specialists in Northern Ireland.
Our experienced team operate across both the domestic and commercial sectors, so if you want to improve your carbon footprint and energy costs, get in touch today!
